Good email.

I always take the lane when on busy streets like Maryland, Charles, and St. Paul. I get my share of yells and honking horns, even though I am keeping up with traffic, but it is better than a door prize or hook.

I believe the cycling community is installing a Ghost Bike at the site on Sunday evening around 6pm.

Be safe out there.

Great advice. A few extra seconds to exercise caution around a bicyclist is a small cost to pay for safety.

I wish bike riders as well as vehicle drivers could be better informed of the law. Yesterday I barely missed (on multiple occassions) another biker all the way from Roland Avenue to Lake to North Charles who not only was weaving in and out of a clear bike lane but ran through every single red light there was, including the light at Northern Parkway. As there are no license plates on bikes, no report of unsafe driving can ever be called in about bikes.

Why do bikers put their kids in and pull them in the wagons near the tail pipes and tires of the cars? How does darwinin theory work between bikes and trucks? And why do parents encourage their kids to ride through intersections against the light? It seems to me that the same self rightous grandiosity found in some religionists, can be found in many bicyclists. I am not impressed.

kat-

I would not put my kid in one of those wagons, I will admit.

Now, are you impressed by the motor vehicle drivers who speed, run red lights, honk at someone for yielding to a pedestrian, double park, stop their cars in traffic to patronize vendors or chat with friends? That's some bad vehicular behavior that gets passed down to children as well. Just wondering.

My condoloences to Mr. Yates. My father was hit by a motorist while participating in a Balt. Cycling Assoc. sponsored event, while driving on the far right side of the road. Driver failed to pass safely and hit him resulting in serious injuries that ultimately resulted in my father's death. The driver received no penalties. We need to seriously reconsider the punishment for motorists who drive dangerously. If my father had been in another car in this accident I suspect the other driver would have recieved a more severe punishment. Where in the law is there a presumption that the cyclist is not entitled to the same legal remedies and protection as a motorist. Tragic injustice.

Let's face it; Baltimore currently is not a bicycle-safe city. Until plans are plans put into effect for cyclists I can see more accidents like this taking place.

I narrowly avoided death when an oncoming car decided to swerve into my lane to avoid the van in front of him. Seconds separated me from serious injury. Until the city gets serious about penalizing bad drivers or installs lanes that are dedicated to bicycles, you will see less people willing to ride their bikes downtown and more incidents such as the one described here.

Mr. Dresser: How much did the bike helmet manuafacturers pay you for your endorsement of a useless product? I'd wager you are without any knowledge of any safety they supposedly afford nor either of the two ridiculous testing procedures used to indicate any such "safety". The fact is they do not afford any protection in a collision with a car or truck. What ever happened to reporters conducting research instead of pertpetuating rumours and falsehoods?